Gamekeeper Podcast

This week we learn about ticks and tick borne diseases along with the details of a promising discovery. Researchers have learned the blood of white-tailed deer kills the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. We are joined by Dr. Stephen Rich of UMass at Amherst, a tick and tick disease expert who explains it all to us.  We are also joined by Dr. Lyon Brown, a medical doctor and local friend who help...

 This week Rob Kinney and Dudley Phelps take over the podcast studio to hit on a few of the many habitat-related questions we get from our listeners. The questions are short, but in true “Dudley style” the answers are on point yet all over the place at the same time. We wouldn’t have it any other way! Listen, Learn, and Enjoy. Show Notes : [1] Nativ Nursery's Wildflower & Nativ Grass Seed...

This week we welcome Heath North and Jason Pieroni, from Stratton Seed Company, to the podcast to help us understand the magical soybean. There may not be a more nutritious and highly desired food source for whitetails that can provide almost 4 seasons of the year. Soybeans are close to being the magic silver bullet of deer forages, but not all soybeans are equal and Heath explains the differences...

On this BONUS podcast, Rob Kinney from the Gamekeeper crew catches up with Scott Rhodes of the Low Country Gamebird Foundation (a 501(c)(3) out of South Carolina) to discuss the Mr. Fox SBE3 28 Gauge they built with Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks, Benelli, and Palmetto State Armory to raffle off in an effort to raise money for Mossy Oak's Gamekeeper Grants.  We learn more about the foundation an...

This week Dr. Mike Chamberlain drops in and we discuss a variety of topics. Mike updates us on the extensive research his team is doing on the LPDV virus, we talk turkey hunting safety after learning of several accidents, and he dispels a few old wives’ tales that we bring up. All in all it’s an interesting discussion centered around the wild turkey. Listen, Learn and Enjoy.  Show Notes: Stay conn...

This week Dr. Shane Bernard tells us the history of Avery Island in Louisiana, including fascinating stories about the conservation efforts of E. A. “Ned” McIlhenny (1872-1949), the son of TABASCO® Sauce inventor E. McIlhenny. As the story goes, this man single handedly saved the imperiled Snowy Egret by creating protected sanctuary on the island that by 1911, had a thriving population over 100,00...

This week we tell all about some turkey misses we remember that haunt us to this day. We’re joined in studio by Dr. Michael Chamberlain, who listens to our stories, laughs at us, comments his wisdom and then shares his own story. Toxey joins us late and gives an update on Mr. Fox and a hunt they shared that morning. However – the theme is misses – and if you turkey hunt much it’s going to happen t...

This week we have a world leader in wildlife conservation discussing the history and future of wildlife conservation. Mr. Shane Mahoney is a well-spoken, lifelong advocate for wild places and the wildlife that inhabits them. Everyone should take the time to listen to his retelling of the past and his insight into the future. It’s an interesting discussion that made us even more thankful for our wi...

This week the Gamekeeper crew continues to entertain our audience with more turkey stories. You’ll hear from an expanded group of hunters as they tell some of their favorite turkey tales. We hang on every word and pay tribute the grandest of all gamebirds. You might even learn something. Listen, Learn, and Enjoy!  If you enjoyed this Gamekeeper episode, send the guys a message and don’t forget to...

This week we hold court in the Gamekeeper studio and share some of our favorite turkey hunting stories. Have you ever heard of someone killing a turkey in their underwear? You will.  What about a miss at three yards, or the turkeys that cause one to make poor decisions – like crossing a raging creek in the dark? You’ll hear a priceless Mr. Fox story from a rainy morning hunt, plus legendary turkey...

This week on the Gamekeepers podcast we talk about how Mother Nature is one TOUGH MOTHER. Our guest is Rick from the Nature is Metal Instagram page, and he’s probably seen more intensive nature scenes play out than anyone else on the planet. We talk about how different nature actually is compared to the warm-and-fuzzy Disney type films. Rick tells us about some odd and interesting video clips, inc...

On this BONUS podcast we chat with none other than Rob, from Rob Roberts Custom Gun Works! We talk all things turkey guns, including: tight chokes, forcing cones, modern shells, porting, old barrels, trigger work, shot strings, and more. Tight can be too tight, and there is no one-size-fits-all pattern. Rob is truly an expert, and has made a career out of improving shotguns with aftermarket gunsmi...

This week, George Mayfield once again joins us between the turkeys to talk turkeys. George’s turkey hunting career has run the full gamut and he has ended up at the Gamekeeper stage wanting to give back. The old guide has spent many a morning breaking day in the turkey woods and his insight and explanations of their behavior is next level. Because our listeners asked, we brought him back. You don’...

This week we have a deep discussion on turkeys with two fanatics, Jason Hart and Doc Weddle. Doc, a carpenter by trade, takes off four months each spring to chase the gobble. He has completed 3 US Turkey slams (all 49 states) and only has a small handful of gobblers left to complete his 4th and 5th!!! Doc gives out some great advice on hunting public ground and how he has learned to get the most e...

This week the Gamekeeper crew talks with noted South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Senior Biologist, Dr. Chad Lehman, about the turkeys found in his state. We learn about how important the Ponderosa Pine is to the tough yet beautiful Merriam’s turkey, hear about previous restoration efforts, and learn about the Black Hills and what to look for if you’re planning a trip to hunt Merriam’s.  Chad is a...

On this BONUS podcast we interview Lucas Mashtare of Tetra to help us understand how a hearing device will protect and enhance our hearing. Turkey hunters depend on their ears, and during this brief but insightful discussion we learn how the many activities of a gamekeeper could be damaging their hearing without the proper protection.  Listen Learn, Enjoy, and Protect Your Hearing.   Show Notes: T...

This week the Gamekeeper crew enjoys a lively discussion of the Rio Grande subspecies of the wild turkey. Dr. Dwayne Elmore of Oklahoma State University explains habitat, roosting habits, and overall behavior of the lusty, frequently gobbling bird that we all love to chase. We learn why their gobble sounds different and a theory on why they can be hard to kill right off the roost.  Lots of turkey...

On this week’s BONUS podcast, we talk about taking western hunting trips and the daunting process of applying for tags. We are joined in studio by Jared Larsen and Lake Pickle of OnX, who explain the new features on their App to help unlock any confusion associated with where/when to apply. It’s a time consuming process made simple by the wizardry of their technology. If you’ve ever had an interes...

This week Dr. Marcus Lashley aka Dr. Disturbance of the University of Florida Deer Lab joins us to talk turkeys. We consider Marcus a homeboy and love talking with him whenever we get a chance. It doesn’t take long for the conversation to morph into a discussion of the Osceola subspecies of the wild turkey. Rich with legend and lore, the Osceola is a remarkable bird that resides in some beautiful...

This week we’re joined by Mike Chamberlain and discuss none other than our beloved wild turkey. It’s a camp fire style conversation where we ask questions and Mike explains his knowledge. It’s an in-depth conversation that ranges from scenarios of which turkey to shoot, to what’s the latest research and insight on current turkey related issues. The turkey world now has many people who are concerne...

This week we are honored to have Dr. Dana Morin, an Applied Population Ecologist with the Carnivore and Population Ecology Lab at the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State, sitting between the turkeys and explaining many facts about coyotes. We learn they are a fascinating animal, very much deserving of our respect even though we still seem to want to trap or shoot each one we s...

During this BONUS episode, Neill and Daniel Haas join us to explain the details of the much anticipated Mr. Fox Vest. It’s been somewhat of a mystery until now, but listen and you can find out the story behind, the reason for and how to acquire your own piece of turkey hunting history. It will be obvious that much thought occurred when designing the vest AND making certain as many people as possib...

This week we welcome Duke Traps owner Bill Duke and world class trapper Cody Shows to the studio to sit between the turkeys and talk trapping. It’s nearly time for turkeys to nest and controlling egg eating predators is on everyone’s mind. We get some great insight from the guy who’s company actually developed the famous Duke Dog Proof trap and probably talks to more trappers than anyone else on t...

This week we send off duck season in style with some of our favorite duck stories, great duck hunting advice and insight into imprinting waterfowl. At the end Chris Paradise and Dudley tell a couple of stories that will make the hair on your arms stand up. These are chilling spiritual experiences experienced by lifelong friends and family in a duck blind. They left us speechless and with eyes wate...

This week on the GameKeeper Podcast we’re excited to have finally had Kyle Lybarger and Jake Brown from The Native Habitat Project in the studio – where we covered as many bases as we could on native and non-native flora, wildlife habitat, burning, savannahs and other ecosystems, and more. We got downright philosophical and really “nerded out” on some cool topics, like:  what did the landscape loo...